Expanded select * Syntax

When the source text of a stored procedure or trigger is stored in the system table syscomments, a query using select * is stored in syscomments expanding the column list referenced in the select *.

For example, a select * from a table containing the columns col1 and col2 is stored as:

select <table>.col1, <table>.col2 from <table>

The expanding of the column-list checks whether identifiers (table-names, column-names and so on) comply with the rules for identifiers.

For example, if a table includes the columns col1 and 2col, the second column-name starts with a number, which can only be included by using brackets in the create table statement.

When performing a select * in a stored procedure or trigger from this table, the text in syscomments looks similar to:

select <table>.col1, <table>[2col] from <table>

For all identifiers used in the text that exands a select *, brackets are added when the identifier does not comply with the rules for identifiers.

You must add brackets around identifiers to make sure the SAP ASE server can use the SQL text while performing an upgrade to a more recent release.